Kingsville

Located in the Wild Horse Desert, just west of the Gulf of Mexico, this is the birthplace of the American ranching industry. It originated as a town along the railroad built by the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway Company. Henrietta King, of the famous King Ranch, donated land for the railway. On July 4, 1904, the first passenger train pulled through town. Kingsville became the Kleberg County seat in 1913.

Today, the city is a birding and wildlife hotspot, with more than 1 million acres of habitat. Kingsville is home to the King Ranch, Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and agricultural and ranching industries. An array of shops and restaurants--Western wear, leather goods, crafts, antiques and jewelry--are nestled in the historic downtown.